By George E. Koronaios – Wikimedia

Top 5 Streets to see in Athens


 

There are numerous things to do while in Athens. You can take tours of the historical landmarks, tour the neighbourhoods or visit the museums.

Athens is a massive city with most of its main attractions being found in the Old Town and the city centre.

To get to these attractions you have to go through some of the main streets in the city.

These streets lead to the museums, shopping malls, while some are the centre of culture, gastronomy and nightlife in Athens.

This list of the top 5 streets to see in Athens will guide you to the best places in the city. Here are some of the streets to visit while in Greece’s capital city.

1. Kydathinaion

By George E. Koronaios – Wikimedia

Kydathinaion is the main street of the Plaka area. It is one of the most interesting and beautiful streets in the neighbourhood.

Plaka happens to be one of the oldest neighbourhoods with some ruins of buildings that centuries old.

The street is lined with colourful colonial houses, bougainvillaea hedges, traditional and shops selling local products.

Some cool taverns and cafés have delicious seafood, meat, mezedes and ouzo. They bring about a cool atmosphere to the beautiful scenery.

While on this street, don’t miss out on walking to the Old Town of Athens, right under the hill of Acropolis.

The street is clear because all the billboards were restricted since they ruined a beautiful view. Night clubs were also banned here to reduce noise pollution.

2. Dionysiou Areopagitou

By George E. Koronaios – Wikimedia

This street runs from east to west of Athens. Dionysiou Areopagitou is a pedestrian street that borders the southern slope of the Acropolis.

It starts from Hadrian’s Arch and goes up to Filopappou Hill where it changes to Apostolou Pavlou Street.

This pedestrian street is usually busy during the high season. It is when both locals and visitors stop by to take in views of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum.

There are also many street vendors selling handicrafts and handmade products.

As you finish your stroll up the street, you can stop by one of the cafes at the border of Apostolou Pavlou.

The street was first planned in 1857 in a more northern position than it appears today. It was redesigned in 1955 by Dimitris Pikionis.

His new design included the paved paths of the archaeological site. The government turned the street to be fully pedestrianized in 2003.

3. Poseidonos Avenue

This is one of the most picturesque avenues hugging the coastline in Athens.

Poseidonos Avenue border the tram tracks and a walkway that allows you to walk along the coast and enjoy the glorious views of the sea.

To get to this street, you will need to take the tram leaving from Syntagma and hop off as it reaches the seaside at Edem stop.

This promenade usually attracts joggers, families and beachgoers and is lined with small seaside cafés and beach resorts.

The street has more than three lanes on each side. Although it gets crowded on weekends and holidays, the street is wide enough.

It turns into an entertainment spot on summer nights when concerts are held.

4. Adrianou Street

By George E. Koronaios – Wikimedia

This is another main street in Athens. Adrianou Street connects Thissio to Hadrian’s Arch. It further splits into two areas, Upper Plaka and Lower Plaka, which makes up Syntagma and Montseriki.

This street is home to many souvenir stores and crosses through picturesque little squares.

Walking down this street is fun and refreshing as you discover hidden gems in the city.

You can take a diversion and check out the back streets for a real sense of the neighbourhood.

Many people love strolling on this street on weekends and during warm summer days.

There are great restaurants here but you will need to reserve a table before going.

As you walk down the street, you will see historical landmarks from a distance. It provides the perfect backdrop for great photos.

5. Panepistimiou Street

By George E. Koronaios – Wikimedia

This street is a major one-way thoroughfare in central Athens. It stretches from Vasilissis Amalia Avenue and Syntagma to Omonia.

The street is named after the University of Athens. It has several architectural gems, such as the Neoclassical Trilogy.

The Neoclassical Trilogy is made up of the University of Athens, the Academy of Athens and the National Library.

You will also see the Bank of Greece, the Numismatic Museum and the Attica department store together with several other neoclassical mansions.

There are some shopping arcades found along this stretch of 1.2 kilometres.